Seabased plans 10-MW wave energy plant in Barbados

Dublin-based wave energy technology firm Seabased Ltd intends to build a wave power park of around 10 MW in support of Barbados’ effort to advance green hydrogen research and development.

The company, which has already connected to the grid two multi-generator test systems on two continents, said on Monday it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) for this project. The plan is to start with a 2-MW pilot that will eventually be expanded to at least 10 MW.

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“Seabased and BIDC have identified an area where we believe we can harvest a considerable amount of reliable, renewable, clean ocean energy without hindering any of the other industries—including tourism— that are so important to Barbados,” said Seabased CEO Laurent Albert.

The Caribbean island relies almost entirely on imported fossil fuels to cover its energy needs but now, according to BIDC chief executive Mark Hill, the government-run agency “is prioritising the provision of sustainable base-load electrical energy at a reduced cost to advance its industrial green hydrogen research and development via scientific innovation in wave technology.”